State advocate

The Landesadvokat (Dutch: landsadvocaat ) of Holland chaired the states of Holland, Zealand and West Friesland . The office introduced at the end of the 14th century was replaced in 1619 by that of council pensioner .

history

The municipal office of pensioner , which was common in the early Netherlands, served as a model . Using the official names "advocaat ende pensionaris" and "advocaat van't land" it was finally possible to use the official name "Landsadvocaat" at that time. In 1480, on the initiative of the Dutch knighthood , Barthout van Assendelft was employed by the states of Holland and West Friesland as the first state advocate in Holland.

In addition to his function as spokesman for the Dutch knighthood, the state advocate was also responsible for every new business point of the Dutch States General that had to be discussed . The office of state advocate was (also due to the financial strength of the county of Holland , which contributed two thirds of the turnover of the United Provinces) after that of the Dutch governor, the highest office within the Republic of the Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands .

The politically most influential Dutch state advocates are their last, Paulus Buys (between 1572 and 1584) and Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (between 1586 and 1619).

See also: List of council pensioners

literature

• Fölting, HP, 'De landsadvocaten en raadpensionarissen der Staten van Holland en West-Friesland 1480-1795